Plural well packers



Jan. 28, 1964 R. 'r. EVANS 3,119,450

PLURAL WELL PACKERS Filed April 4, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l l -r-Zd 3-9 'f37 ,1 7

r M22 i g- INVENTOR Robert T. Evans Flg. 2

Fig.l BY

ATTORNEYS Jan. 28, 1964 R. T. EVANS 3,119,450

PLURAL WELL PACKERS Filed April 4. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v a? 2 INVENTORD & Robert T. Evans Fig. 6 Fig.7 BY W W ms Jan. 28, 1964 R. T. EVANS3,119,450

PLURAL WELL PACKERS Filed April 4, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR RobertT. Evans F|g.9 BY QWL WMQEYS United States Patent M 3,119,450 PLURALWELL PACKERS Robert T. Evans, Duncan, Okla, assignor to HaliiburtonCompany, Duncan, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 4, 1961,Ser. No. 100,638 13 Claims. (Cl. 166-119) This invention relates to Welltools and more particularly to a well packer for closing and sealing thecylindrical space or annulus between two telescoped well flowconductors, such as a tubing string and a well casing and to anapparatus employing well packers.

In certain well operations, such as the treating of earth formationswith sand consolidation material, the treating fluid or material isintroduced into the well through a well flow conductor, such as a tubingstring, and is forced outwardly into the annulus between the tubingstring and the well casing through ports of the tubing located between apair of longitudinally spaced straddle packers carried by the tubingstring which isolate a section of the well casing so that the fluid inthe annulus between the straddle packers is forced outwardly into theformations through perforations in the casing at such location. Thestraddle packers, the upper of which may be the upper assembly HMstraddle packer and the lower of which may be the lower assembly HMstraddle packer illustrated and described on page 2381 of the CompositeCatalog of Oilfield Equipment and Services, 1960-61 Edition. Such upperstraddle packer may be set into operative position in sealing engagementwith the well casing by fluid pressure introduced into the tubing stringand such lower straddle packer may be set by longitudinal or rotarymovement imparted to the tubing string. These packers may be freed formovement from engagement with the Well casing by release of the fluidpressure in the tubing string and by longitudinal and rotationalmovement of the tubing string.

If the earth formation or zone is of appreciable thickness, the straddlepackers may have to be set and then released at several difierentlongitudinally spaced locations in the well in order to secure uniformdistribution of the treating fluid or material over the entireformation. It is desirable that a well packer for sealing between thetubing string and the well casing above the straddle packers be providedin order to prevent the hydrostatic pressure or load in the annulusabove the straddle packers from displacing the treating fluid ormaterial too far back into the formation when the straddle packers aremoved out of sealing engagement with the well casing when the straddlepackers are to be moved to new locations and to retain the pressurebelow such packer in the event that the formation breaks around theupper straddle packer through the perforations of the well casing aboveand below the upper straddle packer and through the formationtherebetween. It is desirable that such packer permit both rotationaland longitudinal movement of the tubing therethrough after it has beenset to close and seal the annulus above the formation which is to betreated to permit successive settings and releases of the straddlepackers and their longitudinal displacement in the well casing to permittreatment of successive longitudinal sections of the formation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved well packer for sealing the cylindrical space or annulusbetween a tubing and a well casing of a well.

Another object is to provide a well packer having an anchoring means forsecuring the well packer against longitudinal movement in the wellcasing and a sealing means for sealing between the well casing and thetubing, which packer permits rotational and longitudinal movement of thetubing whereby other well tools, such as packers,

3,119,450 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 secured to the tubing may be operatedby longitudinal or rotational movement of the tubing while the wellpacker is in sealing engagement with the well casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well packer havinganchoring means which are initially held in a retracted position and aremovable to expanded position to anchor the well packer in a well casingupon rotational and then longitudinal movement of the tubing stringrelative to the packer, the tubing thereafter being movable downwardlyand rotationally to move, set and release other packers secured to thetubing string therebelow while the well packer is in sealing engagementwith the well casing, the anchoring means and sealing means of the wellpacker being freed to move to retracted position upon subsequent upwardmovement of the tubing string whereby the tubing string may be removedfrom the well.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus for treating a wellwhich includes a top well packer and a pair of longitudinally spacedstraddle packers mounted on a tubing string below the top packer whereinthe straddle packers and the tubing may be moved longitudinally androtationally while the top well packer seals the annulus between thetubing and the well casing.

Another object is to provide a Well apparatus having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced packers for sealing between the tubing string andthe well casing wherein the tubing string is longitudinally movablerelative to the uppermost well packer after the uppermost well packerhas been anchored against longitudinal movement in the well casing.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical view of a tubing string having a pair of straddlepackers and a top well packer embodying the invention showing thepackers anchored in sealing engagement with the well casing;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical partly sectional view of the up per portions of apacker embodying the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, being a continuation thereof,showing the lower portions of the well packer;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical partly sectional view showing the upper portionsof the well packer with the sealing means in sealing engagement with thewell casing and the tubing string released for longitudinal movementrelative to the packer;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 being a continuation thereof,showing the lower portions of the well packer;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical partly sectional view of modified form of thewell packer embodying the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIGURE9, and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1111 of FIGURE9.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the top wellpacker 10 embodying the invention is shown mounted on a tubing string Tabove a pair of straddle packers 12 and 13 connected to the tubingstring in the usual manner. The section 15 of the tubing string Tbetween the upper and lower straddle packers is provided with a tubularadapter 16 having a closed lower end and a plurality of lateral ports 17through which fluid introduced into the tubing string at the surface mayflow outwardly into the annulus 18 between the tubing and the wellcasing T9 of the well and thence through the perforations 29 thereofinto an earth formation. The adapter prevents flow of fluid from thetubing string to the lower straddle packer and also connects the lowerstraddle packer to the lower end of the tubing string.

The upper and lower straddle packers 12 and 13 may be the upper andlower HM straddle packers and illustrated in the Composite Catalog ofOilfield Equipment and Services, page 2381, referred to above, having anchoring means 21 and 22, respectively, for rigidly securing the straddlepackers against movement in the well casing and having sealing elements23 and 24, respectively, for sealing between the tubing and the wellcasing. The anchoring means 22 and the sealing means 24 of the lowerstraddle packer 13 and the sealing means 23 of the upper straddle packerare moved to expanded well casing en gagement position upon apredetermined rotational and then downward movement of the tubing stringwhile the anchoring means 21 of the upper straddle packer 12 are movedoutwardly into well casing engaging position by fluid pressureintroduced into the tubing string at the surface.

The anchoring and sealing means of the straddle packers are moved toretracted positions out of engagement with the well casing uponsubsequent upward longitudinal movement of the tubing string and maythen be again moved to anchoring and sealing positions at a differentlocation in the well casing. The structure and mode of operation of thestraddle packers being well known in the art, they will not be describedin. further detail.

The top well packer includes a main mandrel 3t) longitudinally mountedon a reduced tubing section 31 of the tubing string T. The tubingsection 31 has an upper end portion 32 threaded into the lower end offlush joint section 33 of greater outer diameter than the tubing section31, a plurality of which may be connected in the tubing string toconstitute a section thereof above the well packer 10. A J-slot member34 is threaded on the lower end of the tubing section 32 and isconnected to a tubing section 35 by the usual coupling 36 threaded onthe lower reduced end portion 37 of the J-slot member. The tubingsection 35 is connected to the packer 12 in the same manner by acoupling 38.

The mandrel 30 includes an upper sub section 49 whose lower end isthreaded into the upper end of an upper seal section 41 to retain theinternal resilient sealing elements 42 and 43 in place between theupwardly facing shoulder 44 of an internal annular flange 45 of the sealsection 41 and the lower end of the upper sub 49. The upper sub has oneor more lateral ports 47 providing communication between the interiorand exterior thereof. An intermediate seal section 49 of the mandrel 30has an upper end threaded into the upper seal section 41 and has apacker retainer 50 threaded thereon. The packer retainer has an annularinternal upwardly facing recess 51 in which is received the lower endportion of a tubular packer element 53 whose upper free annular endportion is free to flex outwardly in sealing engagement with the wellcasing. The upper packer element 53 may be bonded or otherwise securedto the packer retainer 50 and in addition a sleeve 55 threaded on theintermediate sealing section of the mandrel telescopes into the upperpacker element 53 to further secure the upper packer element againstlongitudinal movement relative to the intermediate sealing section 49and the packer retainer. A middle packer element 57 has an upper portionreceived in the internal annular downwardly facing recess 59 of thepacker retainer 50 and may be bonded or otherwise secured to the packerretainer 56. The middle packer element 57 is further held againstdisplacement from the packer retainer 50 by the upper portion of a lowerpacker retainer 60 threaded on the mandrel and provided with adownwardly facing annular recess 61 in which is disposed the upper endof a downwardly facing lower packer element 62. The packer element 62may be bonded to the lower packer retainer and may be further heldagainst downward displacement by a retainer sleeve 66 slidahly disposedon the intermediate seal section 49 of the mandrel and held againstdownward displacement by the upwardly facing shoulder 67 provided by anexternal annular flange 68 of the intermediate seal section. Theintermediate seal section has an external annular recess above theshoulder 67 in which is received an 'O-ring 69 or other suitable sealingelement which seals between the mandrel and the retainer sleeve 66. Itwill be apparent that the annular free end portion of the upper packerelement 53 is free to flex outwardly to engage the well casing toprevent flow of fluids downwardly between the mandrel 30 and a wellcasing and that the annular free end portions of the middle and lowerpacker elements 57 and 62 are free to flex outwardly to sealingly engagethe well casing to prevent upward flow of fluids past the mandrel 30.

The intermediate seal section has one or more ports 70 below the packerelements which in addition with the ports 47 of the upper sub sectionpermit flow of fluids past the packer elements through the mandrel aslong as the upper flush joint tubing sections are disposed above theinternal sealing elements 42 and 43 of the mandrel.

The upper end portion of a slip carrier section 72 of the mandrel 30 isthreaded on the lower end of the intermediate seal section 49 of themandrel and has an external annular groove or recess 73 in which aredisposed a plurality of slips 74. The external recess 73 of the slipcarrier section has upper and lower annular shoulders 75 and 76 whichextend divergently outwardly from an intermediate cylindrical surface77. Each of the slips has an upwardly and outwardly extending camsurface 78 which is adapted to engage the upper shoulder 75 of theexternal recess upon upward movement of the slip in the external recessto cause the slip to move outwardly of the mandrel 30 and into grippingengagement with the well casing. Each of the slips also has a lowerdownwardly and outwardly facing cam shoulder 79 which is engageable withthe lower shoulder 76 of the external recess, the camming engagementbetween the shoulders 79 and 76 moving the slip outwardly of the mandrelinto gripping engagement with the well casing. Each of the shoulders 79and 78 extend divergently outwardly from the planar inner intermediatesurface 80 of each slip. The slips of course are in their retractedinner positions when the intermediate surfaces 80 of the slips arealigned with and in engagement with the inner surface 73 of the externalrecess. The outer surfaces of the slips are provided with teeth 82 fordigging or biting into the well casing.

Each of the slips extends outwardly through a substantially rectangularrecess 85 of a slip retainer 87 disposed about the slip carrier section72 of the mandrel 30. The slip retainer has a pair of leaf springs 88adjacent each aperture 85 whose free ends extend inwardly into theaperture 85 and into the slip recess 89 of the slip to bias the slipsinwardly into the external recess 73. The leaf springs may be secured tothe slip retainer 87 in any suitable manner as by rivets 90.

Longitudinal and rotational movement of the slip retainer 87 on the slipcarrier section is controlled by the inwardly extending pin 92 threadedin a suitable bore of the retainer adjacent the upper end thereof, whichextends into an external guide recess 93 of the slip carrier section.The guide recess has a vertical portion 94 and a laterally offsetportion 95 which communicates at an intermediate point with thelongitudinal portion $4. When the guide pin 92. is in the upper portion96 of the offset portion of the guide slot 3, the slips 74 are held inthe retracted positions within the external recess 73 of the slipcarrier section 72 and will not engage the well casing. When the slipcarrier section is moved upwardly and then rotated in a clockwisemanner, as seen from above, relative to the slip retainer 87, the slotis so disposed relative to the guide pin 92 that the guide pin 92 isaligned in the longitudinal section of the guide slot 93 thus permittinglongitudinal movement of the slip carrier, and therefore the slips,relative to the slip carrier section of the mandrel. If the slip carriernew moves downwardly relative to the slip retainer 87, the cammingaction between the shoulders 75 and 78 of the slip carrier section ofthe mandrel and of the slips causes the slips to move outwardly of themandrel through the apertures 85 and into engagement with the casing asshown in FIGURE 7. Similarly, if the mandrel is moved upwardly relativeto the slip retainer, the camming engagement between shoulders 76 and 79of the slip carrier section and the slips moves the slips towardexpanded position and into engagement with the well casing. Downwardmovement of the mandrel relative to the slip retainer is limited by theengagement of the guide pin 92 with the lower surface of the externalflange 68 of the intermediate seal section 49 of the mandrel whileupward movement of the mandrel relative to the slip retainer is limitedby the engagement of the guide pin 92 with the surface 99 defining thelower end of longitudinal portion of the guide slot 93.

The slip retainer 87 has a plurality of drag springs 101 each of whichhas an arcuate portion 102 which extends outwardly of the slip carrierinto engagement with the well casing and with end portions 194 and 195disposed in an external elongate recess 167 of the slip retainer 87. Thedrag springs are secured to the slip carrier by a retainer ring 169,disposed in a suitable external annular recess of the slip carrier whichextends over the lower end portions 164 of the drag spring to retainthem in the recess 1117 of the slip retainer. The drag springs 1411serve to hinder both rotational and longitudinal movement of the slipcarrier through the well casing so that relative movement may take placebetween the mandrel and the slip carrier when the mandrel is movedeither rotationally or longitudinally while the well packer is in a wellcasing.

The mandrel 30 is releasably secured to the tubing string T for bothrotational and longitudinal movement therewith by means of the guide pin110, threaded in a suitable bore at the lower end of the slip carriersection 72 of the mandrel, which extends inwardly into the J-slot 112 ofthe member 34 of the tubing string. The J-slot or recess 112 has avertical portion 113 which opens upwardly of the upper end of the J-slotmember and a laterally oifset portion 114 whose upper end is defined orclosed by the arcuate surface 115 adapted to engage the guide pin 11% toprevent both rotational and upward longitudinal movement of the mandrelrelative to the tubing string. It will be apparent that if the tubingstring is moved upwardly and then rotated in a clockwise direction, asseen from above, relative to the mandrel, the intermediate portion guidepin 110 is first moved in align ment with the transverse lateral portion116 of the J-slot and then into alignment with the longitudinal portion113 so that the tubing string can then be moved downwardly while themandrel and slip retainer 87 mounted thereon are left anchored in anupper position in the well casing. Since the resilient packer elements53, 57 and 62 engage the well casing and tend to hinder or preventmovement of the mandrel 30 through the well casing and since the slipretainer 87 is provided with the drag springs 101 which similarly tendto hinder or prevent movement of the slip retainer in the well casing,upward and then clockwise rotational movement of the tubing string freesthe slip retainer 87 and therefore the slips 74 for movement relative tothe mandrel and simultaneously frees the tubing for downward movementrelative to the mandrel. Any longitudinal movement of the mandrel eitherupwardly or downwardly in the well casing now causes the slips to moveoutwardly into engagement with the well casing and anchor the mandreland the slip retainer against movement in the well casing. The mandrel,of course, would tend to move upwardly if a pressure differential werecreated across the mandrel tending to cause flow of fluids upwardlytherepast and would tend to move downwardly if the pressure diiferentialacross the mandrel tended to cause fluids to flow downwardly therepast.

In use, when it is desired to perform such well operations as thetreatment of an earth formation with sand consolidation materials, theusual straddle packers 12 and 13 are connected to a tubing string in theusual manner. Top well packer 10 is then connected in the tubing stringabove the straddle packers in the manner shown in FIG- URES 1 through 3.The reduced tubing section 32 is now disposed in the mandrel 30 so thatthe internal sealing elements 42 and 43 of the mandrel are not inengagement with the tubing section and will permit flow of fluidsthrough the ports 79, the annular space between the reduced tubingsection and the mandrel and the ports 47 past the packer elements 53, 57and 62 as the tubing string with the top packer is moved through thewell casing thus facilitating movement of the tubing string through thewell casing and preventing swabbing engagement of the packer elementswith the well casing.

The guide pin is now in position in the J-slot 112 illustrated inFIGURES 3 and 4 so that the engagement of the pin 111) with the arcuateshoulder of the J -slot member 34 now prevents downward movement of theJ- slot member and of the tubing string relative to the mandrel 3t). Theslip retainer is now held against longitudinal movement relative to themandrel by the engage ment of the guide pin 92 with the arcuate shoulder96 defining the upper portion of the lateral extension 95 of the guideslot 93 of the slip carrier section of the mandrel 30. The slip retaineris thus in an intermediate longitudinal position relative to the slipcarrier section of the mandrel 30 due to the location of the guide pin92 in the laterally oflset portion 95 of the guide slot 93 of the slipcarrier section so that the slips are in their retracted positions inthe external recess 73 of the slip carrier section and are held againstoutward movement toward expanded positions by the leaf springs 88.

As the complete assembly of well packers is moved downwardly through thewell casing to a desired location therein, the engagement of the packerelements of the mandrel and the drag springs 101 of the slip retainer 87of the top well packer with the well casing tends to keep the slipcarrier, the slip retainer and the slips in the positions relative toeach other and to the reduced tubing section 32 illustrated in FIGURES 2and 3 of the drawing. When the well packers have been lowered to thedesired location in the well, the top packer is set first 'by liftingupwardly on the tubing string at the surface to cause the J-slot memberto move upwardly relative to the mandrel and to then cause the mandrelto move upwardly relative to the slip retainer 8'7 once the shoulder 117of the J -slot member engages the lower end of the mandrel. Since theslip carrier is restrained against upward movement by the drag springs161, such further upward movement of the tubing string and the mandrelcauses the guide pin 92 to move downwardly in the lateral extension 95of the guide slot 93 so that subsequent clockwise rotation of the tubingstring moves the tubing string and the J -slot member in a clockwisedirection relative to the guide pin 92 and/ or the guide pin 110. Thelateral intermediate transverse portion 116 of the J-slot member movespast the guide pin and vertical portion 113 moves into alignment withthe guide pin which then engages the vertical shoulder 118 defining oneedge of the vertical portion. Continued rotational movement of thetubing string in a clockwise direction then causes rotational movementof the mandrel relative to the slip retainer 87 causing the longitudinalvertical section 94 of the guide slot or recess 93 to move intoalignment with the guide pin 92. When the guide pin 92 is disposed inthe longitudinal vertical portion of the guide slot 93, the mandrel 30is free to move relative to the slips. If the pressure differentialacross the mandrel now causes the mandrel to move downwardly relative tothe slip retainer as the camming action of the shoulders 75 and 78 ofthe recess 73 and of the slips 74, respectively, causes the slips tomove outwardly against the biasing force of the springs 88 intoengagement with the well casing and anchor the mandrel 30 in the wellcasing against downward movement in the well casing. The drag springs191 of course hinder movement of the slip retainer in the well casing.

If the pressure differential now causes the mandrel to move upwardlyrelative to the slip retainer, the camming action of the shoulders '76and 79 of the mandrel and the slips, respectively, causes the slips tomove outwardly and anchor the mandrel against upward movement in thewell casing.

The tubing string may then be moved downwardly relative to the mandrelwhich is now anchored against movement in the well casing with itspacker elements in sealing engagement with the well casing closing andsealing the annulus between the mandrel and the well casing. As thetubing string is then moved downwardly through the well casing and thepacker mandrel, the J-slot member 34- moves downwardly relative to theguide pin 110, the guide pin passing through the upper open end of thevertical portion 113 of the J-slot 12. The tubing string is thus freedfrom the mandrel for downward movement relative to the mandrel which isleft in anchored position in the well casing.

As the reduced tubing section 32 moves through the tubing string and theflush joint tubing sections 33 enter into the mandrel, the internal sealmeans 42 and 43 engage the flush joint tubing to seal between the tubingand the well casing thus preventing any flow of fluids therebetween. Thetubing may then be moved downwardly to position the straddle packers ata desired location in the well casing.

The straddle packers may be set by rotational and longitudinal movementimparted to the tubing string which causes the anchoring elements ormeans 21 of the lower straddle packer 13 to anchor the lower straddlepacker against movement in the well casing and the sealing means 23 and24 of the straddle packers to move into sealing engagement with the wellcasing. Subsequent increase in fluid pressure introduced in the tubingstring causes the anchoring elements 20 of the upper straddle packerinto anchoring engagement with the well casing.

The fluid or material With which the earth formation between thestraddle packers is to be treated is then pumped downwardly through thetubing string and out of the lateral ports 17 of the adapter 16 into thewell casing and then through the lateral perforations of the easing intothe formation. Should the formation break down about the upper straddlepacker, which would tend to permit the treating fluid to flow throughthe formation back into the annulus above the upper straddle packer andupwardly to the surface, the upper top well packer prevents such flowsince it closes the annulus between the tubing and the well casing abovethe upper straddle packer since the downwardly :facing intermediate andlower packer elements 57 and 62 will be forced outwardly into tightsealing engagement by the upwardly acting pressure differentialthereacross. Similarly, the upper packer element 53 of the top wellpacker prevents any downward flow of fluid past the top packer into thewell casing below and thence through the perforations above the upperstraddle packer into the earth formation.

When a particular portion of the formation has been (treated with thetreating material, the straddle packers may be released in the usualmanner and the tubing string may then be moved downwardly 0r upwardly toposition the straddle packers at another location below the top packerand to reset the straddle packers [to permit treatment of anothersection of the earth formation with the treating material. During suchmovement of the tubing string and the setting and releasing of thestraddle packers, the top well packer prevents any flow of fluids eitherupwardly or downwardly past the top well packer so that there is no lossof the treating liquid during such setting and resetting of the straddlepackers and no flow of fluids disposed in the well casing above the toppacker into the formation.

When the desired operations in which the straddle packers are employedhave been completed and it is desired to remove the apparatus from thewell, the straddle packers are released in the usual manner bydecreasing the fluid pressure within the tubing string and by impartingrotational and longitudinal movement to the tubing string. The tubingstring is then lifted upwardly until the guide pin 11% again enters intothe J-slot 112, the divergent upwardly facing shoulders facilitatingsuch movement of the guide pin into the vertical section 113 of theJ-slot, it being apparent that rotational movement may need to beimparted to the tubing string to cause the vertical portion 113 of theJ-slo-t to be aligned with the guide pin. Further upward movement of thetubing string then causes the lower end of the mandrel to engage theupwardly facing annular shoulder 117 of the J-slot member 34 whereuponfurther upward movement causes upward movement of the mandrel relativeto the slips and the retainer 87. Such upward movement of the mandrelcauses the inner surface 77 of the recess 73 to be aligned with theintermediate surfiaces $0 of the slips so that the slips are free tomove inwardly out of engagement with the well casing thus freeing theslips for inward movernent into the recess. When this occurs, the lowerend of the slip retainer also engages the shoulder 117 preventingfurther upward movement of the mandrel relative to the slip retainer.Since the slips are now not cammed outwardly by either the shoulder 75or the shoulder 76, the slips are in their inner retracted positions andno longer prevent upward movement of the slip retainer and the mandrelupwardly through the well casing, being biased outwardly out ofengagement with the well casing by the springs 88.

During such upward movement of the tubing string, the flush joint tubingsections 33 again move upwardly out of engagement with the internal sealelements 42 and 43 of the mandrel so that fluid may again flow past thepacker elements through the ports 47 and 79 and the annular cylindricalpassage between the mandrel and the reduced tubing section 32. Thetubing string and the packers may now be moved upwardly through the wellcasing.

The modified well packer 154! illustrated in FIGURES 9 through 11includes a tubing section 152 of reduced external diameter which isthreaded to the flush joint tubing sections 33 at its upper end and bymeans of the coupling 35 to the tubing section 35 at its lower end. Amandrel 153 is mounted on the reduced tubing section 152 and includes anintermediate section 155 having an annular external flange 156 adjacentits upper end which provides an upwardly facing shoulder 157. Theannular flange limits downward movement of an annular resilient packerelement 158 disposed about an upper reduced portion 159 of theintermediate section. An upper packer element retainer section 169 isthreaded on the upper end portion of the intermediate section andengages the packer element to hold it in place. The packer element ofcourse may be bonded or adhesively secured to the intermediate mandrelsection. The upper packer retainer section has one or more ports 161which provide communication between the interior and the exterior of themandrel above the packer element 53.

The lower end portion of the intermediate packer mandrel section has asimilar external annular flange 164 which provides a downwardly facingshoulder 165 which limits upward movement of the lower resilient packerelement 166 disposed about the reduced end portion 167 of theintermediate mandrel section. A lower packer element retainer section168 of the mandrel is threaded on the re duced portion 167 of theintermediate mandrel section and engages the lower packer element tohold it against displacement. The resilient packer element of course maybe bonded or adhesively secured to the intermediate section and to thelower retainer section. The lower packer element retainer 168 isprovided with one or more ports 169 which communicate between theinterior and exterior of the mandrel.

The intermediate section has an external annular recess 172 having aninner intermediate vertical cylindrical surface 173 from which extenddivergently outwardly the upper and lower annular cam shoulders 174 and175. A plurality of slips 177 are disposed in the external recess 172and have upper and lower outwardly divergently ex tending shoulders 178and 179 which extend from the intermediate vertical surfaces 180. Theslips are held in place in the recess by means of a tubular slipretainer 183 disposed about the intermediate mandrel section 153 andwhich has a plurality of lateral windows or apertures 185 into which theslips extend. The slips are biased inwardly into the external recess bythe leaf springs 188 whose free ends extend into slots 189 of the slips.The other ends of the springs are secured to the slip retainer by meansof rivets or in any other suitable manner. The external recess 172 andthe slips 177 obviously operate in the same manner as the slips and theexternal recess of the slip carrier section of the well packerillustrated in FIGURES 1 through 8, the slips being cammed outwardlyinto well casing engaging position upon relative longitudinal movementbetween the slip retainer and the mandrel.

Rotational and limited longitudinal movement of the slip retainer on themandrel between the external flanges 156 and 164 of the mandrel isgoverned by the guide pin 190 which extends inwardly into the guide slotor recess 191 of the intermediate mandrel section 153. The guide slot191 has a vertical longitudinal section 193 and a laterally offsetportion 194 which communicates with the vertical section thereof andprovides an arcuate downwardly facing shoulder 195 which is engageablewith the guide pin 190. When the guide pin 190 is in the laterallyoffset portion 194 of the guide slot 191 as illustrated in FIGURE 10,the intermediate surfaces 180 of the slips 17 7 are aligned with andengage the inner vertical surface 173 of the external recess and arethus in their inner retracted positions. When the mandrel is rotated ina clockwise manner, as seen from above, relative to the slip mandrelafter a limited upward movement of the mandrel relative to the slipretainer, the guide pin 190 is positioned in the vertical longitudinalportion 193 of the mandrel whereby a further longitudinal movement maytake place between the mandrel and the slip retainer to cause the slipsto be cammed outwardly by the engagement of either their upper or lowershoulders with the upper or lower shoulders, respectively, of theexternal recess into anchoring engage ment with the well casing.

The intermediate mandrel section also has a pair of internal annularrecesses in which are disposed the internal resilient sealing means 197and 198. The mandrel has one or more ports 199 disposed between the sliprecesses and the lower external flange 164 which also affordcommunication between the interior and the exterior of the mandrel.

The mandrel is releasably secured to the reduced section 152 of thetubing string by a guide pin 202 which extends outwardly from thereduced tubing section into a guide slot 204 of the bottom mandrelsection 205 threaded on the lower end of the lower retainer section 168.The guide slot 204 has an elongate longitudinal portion 206 and adownwardly opening portion 207 which is connected with an intermediateportion of the longitudinal portion 205 by the intermediate lateralportion 208. It will be apparent that when the tubing section is movedupwardly and then rotated in a clockwise manner, as seen from above, theguide pin 202 will move through the lateral portion 208 of the guideslot into the downwardly opening slot portion 207 whereupon the tubingmay be moved downwardly relative to the mandrel since the guide pin 202may then move downwardly out of engagement with the bottom section 205of the mandrel.

It will be apparent that the top well packer may be secured to thetubing string in the same manner as the top well packer 10 illustratedin FIGURES 1 through 8 and operate in the same manner to seal theannulus or space between the tubing string and the well casing whilepermitting longitudinal and rotational movement of the tubing so thatother well tools, such as the usual straddle well packers, may beoperated in the well below the top well packer. Briefly, the top wellpacker is run into a well casing with its operative elements in thepositions illustrated in FIGURES 6 through 11. When the tubing stringhas been lowered to the desired level in the well, the tubing is liftedto position the guide pin 190 out of engagement with the arcuateshoulder 195 and to position the guide pin 202 in alignment with thelateral portion 208 of the guide slot 204. The slip retainer is ofcourse held against such upward movement by the drag springs 210 thereofwhich engage the well casing. The slip retainer 183 is thus freed forlongitudinal movement relative to the packer mandrel so thatlongitudinal movement of the mandrel causes the slips to move outwardlyand anchor the slip retainer, and therefore the mandrel, againstlongitudinal movement in the well casing. The tubing string may then bemoved downwardly relative to the packer mandrel, the guide pin 202passing down through the open end of the open slot portion 207 of theguide slot 204. The inner sealing means 197 and 198 of the mandrelengage the flush joint tubing sections 33 as the tubing is moveddownwardly through the mandrel and seal therebetween. The top wellpacker then seals the annulus between the well casing and tubing stringand prevents flow of fluids therebetween while at the same time itpermits further downward longitudinal and rotational movement of thetubing string which may be required to operate other well tools securedto the tubing string below the top well packer, such as straddlepackers, or the like.

When it is desired to remove the tubing string from the well, the tubingstring is lifted upwardly and rotated as may be required to align theguide pin 202 thereof with the downwardly opening end of the downwardlyopening section 217 of the guide slot 204, the cam shoulder 209facilitating the movement of the guide pin into the guide slot. Furtherupward and then counter-clockwise rotation of the tubing string thenmoves the guide pin 202 into the transverse connecting section 208 ofthe guide slot 204 and at the same time positions the lateral portion194 of the guide slot 191 in alignment with the guide pin 190 whichenters therein. The recess 174 is then moved to cause its intermediatesurfaces 173 to move into alignment with the intermediate shoulders ofthe slips which are then freed for movement to retracted position. Whenthe guide pin 202 engages the arcuate shoulder 215 of the slot 204,further upward movement of the tubing string causes upward movement ofthe mandrel and when the pin of the slip retainer engages the upwardlyfacing shoulder 216 of the guide slot 191, also upward movement of theslip retainer. The tubing string may then be re moved from the well.

It will now be seen that a new and improved top well packer for use witha well flow conductor, such as a tubing string, has been illustrated anddescribed which includes a mandrel releasably mounted on a reducedportion of the tubing string and having anchoring means and sealingmeans for anchoring the mandrel against longitudinal movement in thewell casing and for sealing the annulus between the mandrel and the wellcasing.

It will further be seen that the mandrel is releasably secured on thetubing and provided with internal seals so that upon rotational andlongitudinal movement of the tubing string relative to the mandrel, thetubing string is released for downward movement relative to the mandrelwhereby, when the reduced tubing section passes downwardly through thewell packing, the internal seal means engage the tubing string and sealbetween the mandrel and the tubing string.

It will further be seen that a tubing string is then movablelongitudinally and rotationally relative to the mandrel so that theother well tools secured to the tubing string below such packer may beoperated by longitudinal and rotational movement of the tubing stringand be positioned at different positions in the well.

It will further be seen that the mandrel is provided with port means forpermitting flow of fluid through the mandrel past the external packerelements while the mandrel is releasably secured to the mandrel againstlongitudinal movement relative thereto to facilitate movement of thepacker through the well casing and preclude swabbing action by theexternal packer elements of the mandrel.

It will further be seen that the anchoring means of the mandrel ismovable to retracted position upon upward movement of the tubing stringto the position wherein the reduced tubing section is again aligned withthe mandrel whereby further upward movement of the tubing string maythen take place permitting removal of the well packer from the well.

While the well packer embodying the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in connection with the use of straddle packers in suchoperations as the treatment or" an earth formation with sandconsolidation material, the well packer may also have such other usesas, for example, a downhole blowout preventer or drilling head. In thiscase, the well packer would be mounted on a drill pipe or tubing stringhaving an outside diameter smaller than the internal seals of themandrel and having an enlarged section below the packer which would bemovable into sealing engagement with the internal seals of the mandrel.In the event of a blowout, lost circulation, or other condition of thewell, requiring closing of the annulus between the drill pipe and thewell bore, the drill string would be raised until the enlarged sectionof the string would engage the internal seals in the packer thusshutting off flow through the packer until remedial measures could betaken. The well packer, of course, would be anchored in sealingengagement with the well casing, and the large port section moveddownwardly through it prior to the commencement of drilling operations.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A well apparatus for use in a well including: an elongate flowconductor positionable in the well; a well packer; cooperable means onsaid well packer and said flow conductor engageable for connecting saidpacker to said flow conductor whereby said packer is releasably securedto said flow conductor for movement therewith into the well, said wellpacker having means thereon for sealing between said packer and the borewall of the well; anchoring means on said packer initially in retractednon-anchoring position thereon; said packer having expander meansthereon movable in either direction longitudinally relative to saidanchoring means for anchoring said well packer in said well uponrotational and then longitudinal movement of said expander meansrelative to said anchoring means, said flow conductor being movablerotationally and longitudinally relative to the Well packer after saidWell packer has been anchored in said well; and well tool means securedto said flow conductor below said well packer whereby said well toolmeans may be operated by rotational and longitudinal movement of saidflow conductor while said well packer closes the annulus between theflow conductor and the wall of the well bore above said well tool means.

2. A well apparatus for use in a well including: an elongate flowconductor positionable in the well; a well packer; pin and slot means onsaid flow conductor and said well packer engageable to releasablyconnect said well packer to said flow conductor for movement therewithinto the well, said well packer having means thereon for sealing betweensaid packer and the bore wall of the well; anchoring meanslongitudinally movably mounted on said packer initially in retractednon-anchoring position thereon; said packer having expander meansthereon movable in either direction relative to said anchoring means toengage and move said anchoring means to anchoring position for anchoringsaid well packer in said well upon rotational and then longitudinalmovement of said expander mean relative to said anchoring means, saidflow conductor being movable rotationally and longitudinally relative tothe well packer after said well packer has been anchored in said well;and well tool means secured to said fiow conductor below said wellpacker whereby said well tool means may be operated by rotational andlongitudinal movement of said flow conductor while said well packercloses the annulus between the flow conductor and the bore Wall of thewell above said well tool means, said well tool means comprising a pairof longitudinally spaced straddle packers.

3. A well tool including: a flow conductor; a tubular member disposedabout the flow conductor; seal means on said tubular member for sealingbetween said tubular member and said flow conductor; first cooperablemeans on said tubular member and said flow conductor for releasablyholding the flow conductor against longitudinal movement relative tosaid tubular member; means carried by said tubular member for anchoringsaid tubular member in a well; second cooperable means on said tubularmember and said anchoring means engageable for releasably holding saidanchoring means against longitudinal movement relative to said tubularmember, said means being releasable upon rotational and longitudinalmovement of said tubular member relative to said anchoring means wherebysaid tubular member may be moved in either longitudinal directionrelative to said anchoring means to move said anchoring means toanchoring position; and seal means carried by said tubular member forclosing the annular space between the tubular member and the well whensaid well tool is disposed in a well, said flow conductor being movablerotationally and longitudinally relative to said tubular member whensaid first cooperable means release said flow conductor for movementrelative to said tubular member.

4. A well tool including: a flow conductor having a longitudinallyextending section of reduced external diameter; a tubular memberdisposed about said flow conductor; first cooperable means on saidtubular member and said flow conductor for releasably holding thetubular member in alignment with said reduced section of said Howconductor and against longitudinal movement relative to said flowconductor; seal means carried by said member for sealing between saidtubular member and said flow conductor when said flow conductor is movedlongitudinally relative to said tubular member to move said reducedsection of the flow conductor out of alignment with said tubular member;means longitudinally movably carried by said tubular member foranchoring said tubular member in a Well; expander means on said tubularmember engageable with said anchoring means upon longitudinal movementof said tubular member relative to said anchoring means for moving saidanchoring means outwardly for anchoring said tubular member in a well;second cooperable means on said tubular member and said anchoring meansengageable to hold said anchoring means against such longitudinalmovement in inoperative non-anchoring position relative to said expandermeans and releasable to permit longitudinal movement of said tubularmember relative to said anchoring means; and external seal means carriedby said tubular member for sealing between said tubular member and theinternal wall of a well when the tubular member is disposed in the well;said first cooperable means releasing said flow conductor forlongitudinal movement relative to said tubular member upon rotationalmovement in a predetermined direction and then longitudinal movement ofsaid flow conductor relative to said tubular member.

5. A well tool including: a flow conductor having a longitudinallyextending section of reduced external diameter; a tubular memberdisposed about said flow conductor; first cooperable means on saidtubular member and said flow conductor for releasably holding thetubular member in alignment with said reduced section of said flowconductor and against longitudinal movement relative to said flowconductor; seal means carried by said member for sealing between saidtubular member and said flow conductor when said flow conductor is movedlongitudinally relative to said tubular member to move said reducedsection of the flow conductor out of alignment with said tubular member;means longitudinally movably carried by said tubular member foranchoring said tubular member in a well; expander means on said tubularmember engageable with said anchoring means upon longitudinal movementof said tubular member relative to said anchoring means for moving saidanchoring means outwardly to engage the wall of the well bore foranchoring said tubular member in a well; second cooperable means on saidtubular member and said anchoring means engageable to hold saidanchoring means against such longitudinal movement in inoperativenon-anchoring position relative to said expander means and releasable topermit longitudinal movement of said tubular member relative to saidanchoring means; and external seal means carried by said tubular memberfor sealing between said tubular member and the internal wall of a wellwhen the tubular member is disposed in the well; said first cooperablemeans releasing said flow conductor for longitudinal movement relativeto said tubular member upon rotational movement in a predetermineddirection and then longitudinal movement of said flow conductor relativeto said tubular member, said second cooperable means also being releasedupon rotation of said tubular member in said predetermined directionrelative to said anchoring means to free said anchoring means formovement to anchoring position.

6. A well packer for sealing between a fiow conductor and the casing ofa Well including: a tubular mandrel disposed about the flow conductorand having an external seal means for sealing between the mandrel andthe well casing when the well packer is dis-posed in the well; anchoringmeans longitudinally movably carried by said mandrel for anchoring saidmandrel against movement in said well casing; first cooperable means onsaid mandrel and said anchoring means engageable for releasably holdingsaid mandrel against longitudinal movement relative to said anchoringmeans, said first cooperable means holding said mandrel against movementrelative to said anchoring means being releasable to free said mandrelfor movement longitudinally in either direction tomove said anchoringmeans to engagement with the well casing upon rotational movement ofsaid mandrel in a predetermined direction relative to said anchoringmeans; second cooperable means on said mandrel and said flow conductorfor releasably holding said mandrel against longitudinal movementrelative to the flow conductor, said flow conductor being released uponrotational movement of said flow conductor relative to said mandrel insaid predetermined direction to disengage said second cooperable meansto free said flow conductor for longitudinal and rotational movementrelative to the mandrel; and seal means carried by said mandrel andengageable with said flow conductor for sealing between the flowconductor and said mandrel upon longitudinal movement of said flowconductor relative to said mandrel.

7. A well packer for sealing between a flow conductor and a casing of awell including: a mandrel disposed about the flow conductor and havingan external sealing means for sealing between the mandrel and the wellcasing when the well packer is disposed in the well; anchoring meanslongitudinally movably carried by said mandrel for anchoring saidmandrel against movement in said well; first cooperable means on saidmandrel and said anchoring means engageable for releasably holding saidmandrel against longitudinal movement relative to said anchoring means,said first cooperable means holding said mandrel against movementrelative to said anchoring means being releasable to free said mandrelfor movement longitudinally in either direction to move said anchoringmeans into engagement with the well casing upon rotational movement ofsaid mandrel in a predetermined direction relative to said anchoringmeans; second cooperable means on said mandrel and said flow conductorfor releasably holding said mandrel against longitudinal movementrelative to the flow conductor, said flow conductor being released fromsaid mandrel 'upon rotational movement of said flow conductor relativeto said mandrel in said pre determined direction to disengage saidsecond cooperable means to free said flow conductor for longitudinal androtational movement relative to the mandrel, said mandrel and said flowconductor having means providing a flow passage past said seal meanswhen said mandrel is held against longitudinal movement relative to theflow conductor by said cooperable means; and seal means carried by saidmandrel and engageable with said flow conductor for sealing between theflow conductor and said mandrel for closin said flow passage when saidflow conductor is released from the mandrel and moved longitudinallyrelative thereto.

8. A well packer for sealing between a fiow conductor and a casing of awell including: a mandrel disposed about the flow conductor and havingan external sealing means for sealing between the mandrel and the wellcasing when the well packer is disposed in the well; anchoring meanslongitudinally movably carried by said mandrel for anchoring saidmandrel against movement in said well; first cooperable means on saidmandrel and said anchoring means engageable for releasably holding saidmandrel against longitudinal movement relative to said anchoring means,said first cooperable means holding said mandrel against movementrelative to said anchoring means being releasable to free said mandrelfor movement longitudinally in either direction to move said anchoringmeans into engagement with the Well casing upon rotational movement ofsaid mandrel in a predetermined direction relative to said anchoringmeans; means on said mandrel engageable with said anchoring means uponlongitudinal movement of said mandrel relative to said anchoring meansin either longitudinal direction for moving said anchoring means toanchoring position; second cooperable means on said mandrel and saidflow conductor for releasably holding said mandrel against longitudinalmovement relative to the flow conductor, said flow conductor beingreleased from said mandrel upon rotational movement of said flowconductor relative to said mandrel in said predetermined direction todisengage said second cooperable means to free said flow conductor forlongitudinal and rotational movement relative to the mandrel, said flowconductor having a longitudinal section of reduced external diameter,said second cooperable means holding the said mandrel longitudinallyaligned with said reduced portion of saidflow conductor whereby a flowpassage past said seal means is provided; and seal means carried by saidmandrel and engageable with said flow conductor for sealing etween theflow conductor and said mandrel for closing said how passage when saidflow conductor is released from the mandrel and moved longitudinallyrelative thereto.

9. A well packer for sealing between a flow conductor and a casing of awell including: a mandrel disposed about the flow conductor and havingan external sealing means for sealing between the mandrel and the wellcasing when the well packer is disposed in the well; anchoring meanslongitudinally movably carried by said mandrel for anchoring saidmandrel against movement in said well; first cooperable means on saidmandrel and said anchoring means engageable for releasably holding saidmandrel against longitudinal movement relative to said anchoring means,said first cooperable means holding said mandrel against movementrelative to said anchoring means being releasable to free said mandrelfor movement longitudinally in either direction to move said anchoringmeans into engagement with the Well casing upon rotational movement ofsaid mandrel in a predetermined direction relative to said anchoringmeans; second cooperable means on said mandrel and said flow conductorfor releasably holding said mandrel against longitudinal movementrelative to the flow conductor, said flow conductor being released fromsaid mandrel upon rotational movement of said flow conductor relative tosaid mandrel in said predetermined direction to disengage said secondcooperable means to free said flow conductor for longitudinal androtational movement relative to the mandrel, said mandrel and said flowconductor having means providing a flow passage past said seal meanswhen said mandrel is held against longitudinal movement relative to theflow conductor by said cooperable means, and seal means carried by saidmandrel and engageable with said flow conductor for sealing between theflow conductor and said mandrel for closing said flow passage when saidflow conductor is released from the mandrel and moved longitudinallyrelative thereto, said anchoring means being disposed below said sealingmeans.

10. A well packer for sealing between a flow conductor and a casing of awell including: a mandrel disposed about the flow conductor and havingan external sealing means for sealing between the mandrel and the wellcasing when the well packer is disposed in the well; anchoring meanslongitudinally movably carried by said mandrel for anchoring saidmandrel against movement in said well; first cooperable means on saidmandrel and said anchoring means releasably engageable to preventlongitudinal movement of said mandrel relative to said anchoring means,said anchoring means being in inoperative retracted position while saidfirst cooperable means are engaged; means on said mandrel engageablewith said anchoring means for moving said anchoring means outwardly toexpanded anchoring position upon longitudinal movement of said mandrelin either longitudinal direction relative to said anchoring means; saidfirst cooperable means on said mandrel and said anchoring means beingreleasable for movement of said mandrel relative to said anchoring meansto move said anchoring means into engagement with the well casing uponrotational movement of said mandrel in a predetermined directionrelative to said anchoring means; second cooperable means on said mandrel and said flow conductor for releasably holding said mandrel againstlongitudinal movement relative to the flow conductor, said fiowconductor being released from said mandrel upon rotational movement ofsaid flow conductor relative to said mandrel in said predetermineddirection to disengage said second cooperable means to tree said flowconductor for longitudinal and rotational movement relative to themandrel, said mandrel and said flow conductor having means providing aflow passage past said external sealing means when said mandrel is heldagainst longitudinal mo e ent relative to the fiow conductor by saidsecond cooperable means; and second seal means carried by said mandrelengageable with said flow conductor for sealing between the flowconductor and said mandrel for closing said flow passage when said flowconductor is released from the mandrel and moved longitudinally relativethereto, said external sealing means comprising a plurality oflongitudinally spaced elements, said anchoring means being disposedbetween said elements.

11. A well packer for sealing between a flow conductor having a sectionof reduced external outer diameter and a casing of a well, said packerincluding: a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough and adaptedto be disposed about the reduced portion of the flow conductor; saidmandrel having internal seal means of greater inside diameter than theouter diameter of said reduced section of said flow conductor andengageable with said flow conductor for sealing between the mandrel andthe flow conductor when the flow conductor is moved longitudinallyrelative to the mandrel to move the reduced portion of the flowconductor out of alignment with the mandrel; and anchoring meanslongitudinally movably carried by the mandrel for anchoring the mandrelin the well casing; expander means on said mandrel engageable with saidanchoring means upon longitudinal movement of said mandrel in eitherdirection longitudinally relative to said anchoring means for expandingsaid anchoring means to anchoring position; said mandrel and saidanchoring means having cooperable means for releasably holding theanchoring means against longitudinal movement relative to said mandreland out of engagement with said expander means on said mandrel wherebysaid anchoring means is in retracted position out of anchoringengagement with the well casing, said mandrel and said fiow conductorhaving releasable means for holding the mandrel in alignment with thereduced section of the flow conductor.

12. A well packer for sealing between a flow conductor and a casing of aWell including: a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough anddisposable about the flow conductor, said mandrel having internal sealmeans for sealing between the mandrel and the flow conductor; anchoringmeans longitudinally movably carried by the mandrel for anchoring themandrel in the well casing; expander means on said mandrel engageablewith said anchoring means upon longitudinal movement of said mandrel ineither direction longitudinally relative to said anchoring means forexpanding said anchoring means to anchoring position; said mandrel andsaid anchoring means having cooperable means for releasably holding theanchoring means against longitudinal movement relative to said mandreland out of engagement by said expander means on said mandrel wherebysaid anchoring means is in retracted position out of anchoringengagement with the well casing; releasable means for holding themandrel against longitudinal movement relative to the flow conductor;and external sealing means carried by the mandrel for sealing betweenthe mandrel and a casing of a well.

13. A well packer for sealing between a flow conductor ,and a casing ofa well including: a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough anddisposable about the flow conductor, said mandrel having internal sealmeans for sealing between the mandrel and the flow conductor; anchoringmeans longitudinally movably carried by the mandrel for anchoring themandrel in the well casing; expander means on said mandrel engageablewith said anchoring means upon longitudinal movement of said mandrel ineither direction longitudinally relative to said anchoring means forexpanding said anchoring means to anchoring position; said mandrel andsaid anchoring means having cooperable means for releasably holding theanchoring means against longitudinal movement relative to said mandreland out of engagement by said expander means on said mandrel wherebysaid anchoring means is in retracted position out of anchoringengagement with the well casing; releasable means for holding themandrel against longitudinal movement relative to the flow conductor;and external sealing means carried by the mandrel for sealing betweenthe mandrel and a casing of a well, said cooperable means and saidreleasable means being operable upon rotational movement of said flowconductor in a single direction to free said anchoring means formovement to anchoring engagement and said flow conductor forlongitudinal and rotational movement relative to the mandrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS BrownAug. 30, 1955 Brown July 7, 1959 Brown July 4, 1961 Crowe Aug. 29, 1961

12. A WELL PACKER FOR SEALING BETWEEN A FLOW CONDUCTOR AND A CASING OF AWELL INCLUDING: A MANDREL HAVING A LONGITUDINAL BORE THERETHROUGH ANDDISPOSABLE ABOUT THE FLOW CONDUCTOR, SAID MANDREL HAVING INTERNAL SEALMEANS FOR SEALING BETWEEN THE MANDREL AND THE FLOW CONDUCTOR; ANCHORINGMEANS LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLY CARRIED BY THE MANDREL FOR ANCHORING THEMANDREL IN THE WELL CASING; EXPANDER MEANS ON SAID MANDREL ENGAGEABLEWITH SAID ANCHORING MEANS UPON LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MANDREL INEITHER DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY RELATIVE TO SAID ANCHORING MEANS FOREXPANDING SAID ANCHORING MEANS TO ANCHORING POSITION; SAID MANDREL ANDSAID ANCHORING MEANS HAVING COOPERABLE MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING THEANCHORING MEANS AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID MANDRELAND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT BY SAID EXPANDER MEANS ON SAID MANDREL WHEREBYSAID ANCHORING MEANS IS IN RETRACTED POSITION OUT OF ANCHORINGENGAGEMENT WITH THE WELL CASING; RELEASABLE MEANS FOR HOLDING THEMANDREL AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE FLOW CONDUCTOR;AND EXTERNAL SEALING MEANS CARRIED BY THE MANDREL FOR SEALING BETWEENTHE MANDREL AND A CASING OF A WELL.